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The Sir John Herschel Collection
The preparation of the print Calendar of the Correspondence of Sir John Herschel (Michael J. Crowe ed., David R. Dyck and James J. Kevin assoc. eds, Cambridge, England: Cambridge Univ. Press, 1998, viii + 828 pp) which was funded by the National Science Foundation, took ten years. It was accomplished by a team of seventeen professors, visiting scholars, graduate students, advanced undergraduates, and staff working at the University of Notre Dame.
The first online version of Calendar was created in 2009 by Dr Marvin Bolt and Steven Lucy, working at the Webster Institute of the Adler Planetarium, and it is that data that has now been reformatted for incorporation into Ɛpsilon.
Further information about Herschel, his correspondence, and the editorial method is available online here: http://historydb.adlerplanetarium.org/herschel/?p=intro
No texts of Herschel’s letters are currently available through Ɛpsilon.
JH must write official letter to Admiralty stating completion of [Cape of Good Hope] telescope and explaining reason for additional £170.
Regarding spots on the sun and [T. J.?] Hussey and [A.?] Dawson's observations.
JH comments on quality of Georg Merz object glasses.
Gratitude for receipt of JH's Cape Results. Owning no instruments, EH appreciated JH's chapter on 'naked eye' astronomy. Notes and drawings of variable stars.
Agrees that some of JH's suggestions about meteor showers were probably unnecessary [see GA's 1848-1-29].
Is aware of T. J. Hussey's drawings [see GA's 1848-2-1]; needs information about P. A. Hansen's lunar theory for an appreciation JH is to provide.
Concerning P. A. Hansen's observations of Lunar irregularities.
Some additional details about JH's aunt Caroline [see JH's 1848-1-27].
JH must arrange for the celebration of Bishop's Observatory. Needs information on its equipment, achievements, and staff, e.g., on W. R. Dawes's and J. R. Hind's observations. Will contact Hind.
Has found that Orionus is a double star. Compares William Lassell's and Wilhelm Struve's observations of various stars.
Sending something from Airy relating to the testimonial. Anything he does not use can be returned to Somerset House for AD.
As JH has accepted the superintendency of the Admiralty Manual he will try to undertake the geological part, but it will take time as he is busy on another project.
Has performed experiments measuring the deviation of spectra through an obliquely placed diffraction grating. Believes they strongly support the wave theory of light.
Received yesterday JH's receipts for payment of Cape telescope. Forwarded these to accountant general of Navy.
Informing him of the recent death of Mrs. Lestock Wilson.
Has been carrying out researches on the reflection of light. Would like JH to communicate his paper on this subject to the R.S.L.
Needs clarification about John Lubbock's planetary theory; thanks for G. B. Airy's lunar reductions.
[P.S. on verso of cover. Rest of letter is missing.] Notified Mrs. Knipping of kind wishes sent by JH and wife. Will notify JH when personal effects of Caroline Lucretia Herschel have been inventoried and distributed according to JH's directions. Questions fate of [telescope] given to [J. F. L.] Hausmann by Caroline Herschel now that Hausmann is dead. Suggests donating it to observatory at Göttingen or to 'Archiv' in Hanover.
Thanks JH for the gift of a copy of JH's Cape Results, and admires it greatly.
Returns [Max] Weisse's manuscript. He must say something about it and so has swallowed 'whole hog' what RS had written about it. Will make a mess [in his R.A.S. address] of John Lubbock's work on perturbations.